.... “Putin has imperial ambitions motivated by his pathological insecurities
in a quest to restore lost glories.” Where’s the evidence to support
this allegation? Russia can no more support quixotic imperial adventures
than the U.S. can afford another Iraq or Afghanistan. Even a peaceful
joining of Crimea to Russia is going to cost Russia quite a lot. Putin’s
clear aim was to secure the Black Sea ports when it appeared that
Ukraine might join NATO. Putin’s aim was not imperial extension but the
maintenance of a neighboring region in its orbit against western
advances....